What is Hot Pot?
Hot pot—a communal dining experience in which guests cook raw ingredients in a pot of simmering broth—can make for an impressive dinner party that’s much easier than it looks. Since guests do all of the cooking together, it’s an easy, low-stress way to host that’s customizable and also fosters connection.
“You don't have any cooked food in front of you in advance, like you might with a Western meal," Pickowicz says. "It's very interactive and very playful. It’s also very open-ended and customizable, so it can go on for hours and hours because of that back-and-forth motion, similar to fondue.”
Why You Should Host a Hot Pot Party
While hot pot certainly looks involved, it’s deceptively easy to do at home. It requires minimal prep ahead of time, and since guests cook the meal together, you can actually enjoy the time spent with friends instead of being glued to the stove.
“Hot pot is great for entertaining if you're the kind of host who doesn't want to miss a minute of action because you're in the kitchen bringing that pasta together or out on the grill in the backyard,” Pickowicz says. “The genius of hot pot is that you're actually not doing all that much cooking in advance... I think it takes a lot of pressure off the host to be doing anything at the last second. For me, it really lets me be present and enjoy those moments.”
Tools You Need for Hot Pot
You likely already have many of the tools you need to throw a hot pot party, but there are a few must-have items.
Heat Source
Pickowicz says the most important piece of equipment that you need for hot pot is a heat source to keep the pot of broth or water at a steady simmer throughout the night.
“You just need a way to keep the liquid hot at the table where you're going to be cooking,” she says. She recommends a portable induction cooktop or an electric power burner (also known as a hot plate), which are both easy-to-use, portable options that just require an electrical outlet. You can also opt for a camping stove, which is fueled by a butane canister and doesn’t require a plug.
“There's something about seeing that open flame that I think is really romantic,” she says. “It kind of adds to the vibe of the hot pot meal.”
A Sturdy Pot
Naturally, you also need a sturdy pot to hold all that soup. Pickowicz prefers a dual-chambered hot pot, which allows you to serve two types of broth at once, but you can also use a Dutch oven, soup pot, or stockpot. Pickowicz recommends looking for a pot that can hold 2 to 4 quarts of liquid, with sides tall enough to contain a bubbling broth without inhibiting your ability to scoop out ingredients (about 4 inches is ideal).
Must-Have Accessories
Outside of the main equipment, there are a few tools (many of which are probably already in your kitchen!) that will make hosting a hot pot party easier:
- Chopsticks
- Tongs
- Strainer or small steamer basket (also known as a scoop, spider, or skimmer)
- Soup bowls
- Soup spoons
- Soup ladles
- Side plates
Key Ingredients for Hot Pot
Pickowicz feels strongly that hot pot can be whatever you want it to be. She encourages home cooks to get creative with ingredients that they already have on hand, such as tahini or peanut butter in place of Chinese white sesame paste or dried apples instead of dried jujubes.
“For a great hot pot table, you do want a little bit of everything, but you can have a lot of fun within that,” Pickowicz says. The options are nearly endless, but you can use her foolproof formula as a starting point for a well-balanced hot pot: 1 leafy green + 1 fresh herb + 1 bite-sized protein + 1 creamy vegetable + 1 carb
In total, Pickowicz recommends purchasing about 28 ounces of food and 1 quart of broth per guest. For a hot pot party of four, for instance, you’ll need roughly:
- 4 qts broth
- 4 lbs mixed vegetables and herbs
- 1½ lbs of dumplings, noodles, or breads
- 1½ lbs meat, seafood, or tofu
Leafy Greens
- Cabbage
- Bok choy
- Romaine
- Spinach
- Kale
Fresh Herbs
- Mint
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Scallions
Proteins
- Fresh tofu
- Thinly sliced meat (ribeye, pork belly, chicken thighs, lamb shoulder, etc.)
- Seafood (scallops, mussels, clams, shrimp, crab legs, etc.)
Creamy Vegetables
- Sweet potatoes
- Squash
- Taro
Carbs
- Noodles (glass noodles, instant ramen, pho noodles, etc.)
- Scallion pancakes
Light Prep, Plenty of Fun
Okay, you have all the supplies—now what? Pickowicz likes to say that hot pot can meet you where you are. You can prep all of the ingredients yourself for a made-from-scratch feast, or you can lean on pre-made hot pot soup bases, dipping sauces, pre-cut vegetables and proteins, and frozen items (such as scallion pancakes or dumplings) for ease. Since you’ll be cooking everything together in the pot, you don’t need to prep too much ahead of time, but at a minimum, wash, chop, and arrange the ingredients so they’re ready for guests to cook and eat.
“You don't want people to be dealing with any of that prep at the table," Pickowicz says. "It's mostly about processing your items and then arranging them in a visually stunning way. If you can build a cheese board or charcuterie board, you can make a hot pot spread.”
